Portugal honour Cristiano Ronaldo as Carlos Forbs inherits iconic number seven

Portugal will give the number seven shirt associated with Cristiano Ronaldo a new beginning when Carlos Forbs wears it against Denmark on Saturday in the fifth round of the Nations League.

Forbs, the Club Brugge winger, has been selected by Portugal manager Jorge Jesus to wear the number for the first time since Ronaldo ended his international career. The shirt will also appear with a redesigned graphic, in a move intended to recognise the legacy created by Ronaldo over more than two decades with the national team.

The Portuguese Football Federation announced the change on Saturday, with Record reporting that the previous design will be retained to document Ronaldo’s achievements with Portugal.

In a statement, the federation said: “This is another way of celebrating the meaning of a very special number and honouring the legacy it represents. There are stories, memories, achievements and emotions that will forever remain associated with Cristiano Ronaldo.”

It added that the new version would carry the same spirit and pride despite its different appearance, while the earlier design would remain a lasting record of a career it described as a story that would never be forgotten.

Forbs’ temporary role

Forbs’ selection is not necessarily a permanent decision. According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Rafael Leao is the leading candidate to take over the number seven shirt in the longer term.

Leao, the Milan winger, has missed Portugal’s two current matches because of injury and was therefore unavailable for selection. His absence has given Forbs the opportunity to wear a number that has become inseparable from one of the most important players in the country’s history.

UEFA Nations League regulations have also influenced the decision. Participating teams must assign squad numbers from one to 23, meaning Portugal have to allocate the number seven to a player in the current squad even though the likely long-term successor is absent.

Forbs will therefore wear the famous number against Denmark, while its future remains open ahead of Leao’s return and the possibility that he will become Ronaldo’s successor.

The end of Ronaldo’s era

Ronaldo brought his Portugal career to an end at the start of November after 23 years with the national team. During that time, the number seven became closely linked to his achievements and turned into a defining symbol of Portugal’s football identity.

For Portuguese supporters, it represented far more than a number printed on the back of a shirt. It recalled years of appearances, accomplishments and defining moments produced by Ronaldo, making it difficult to separate the player’s image from the shirt he wore throughout his international career.

The federation’s decision to introduce a new design while preserving the previous one reflects the transition between two periods: one celebrating Ronaldo’s contribution and another allowing a new generation to take responsibility for the number seven shirt.